March 23, 2016
What Is Core Housing Need?
A Household Is in Core Housing Need If…
- its housing does not meet one or more of the adequacy, suitability or affordability standards, and
- it would have to spend 30% or more of its before-tax income to access acceptable local housing.
- Acceptable housing is adequate in condition, suitable in size, and affordable.
- Adequate housing does not require any major repairs, according to residents.
- Suitable housing has enough bedrooms for the size and makeup of resident households, according to National Occupancy Standard (NOS) requirements.
- Affordable housing costs less than 30% of before-tax household income.
CMHC estimates and publishes core housing need every five years using the Census of Canada, and annually, using the Canadian Income Survey.
While the Canadian number has changed little from 2001 – 2011, it varies across the country and from city to city.
You can use core housing need estimates to identify groups in your community that are most in need of housing assistance, and to inform housing and poverty strategies and housing program proposals.
For more information on Core Housing Need and the differences between the Census and other surveys, read the chapter on Affordability from the 2014 Canadian Housing Observer (PDF).
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Incidence of Core Housing Need by Location, 2011
Text version
Incidence of Core Housing Need by Location, 2011
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
11.4% |
| Prince Edward Island |
9.2% |
| Nova Scotia |
12.5% |
| New Brunswick |
9.9% |
| Quebec |
10.8% |
| Ontario |
13.4% |
| Manitoba |
10.3% |
| Saskatchewan |
13.2% |
| Alberta |
10.7% |
| British Columbia |
15.4% |
| Yukon |
14.6% |
| Northwest Territories |
15.7% |
| Nunavut |
39.3% |
| All CMAs |
13.4% |
| Québec |
8.6% |
| Montréal |
13.3% |
| Ottawa - Gatineau |
10.7% |
| Toronto |
16.9% |
| Calgary |
10.1% |
| Vancouver |
17.7% |
| All CAs |
10.3% |
| Whitehorse |
9.9% |
| Yellowknife |
10.1% |
| Rural areas |
10.6% |
| Iqaluit |
22.7% |
Incidence of Core Housing Need in Canada by Household Characteristics, 2011
Household Characteristics
Primary Household Maintainer Characteristics
Text version
Incidence of Core Housing Need in Canada by Household Characteristics, 2011
| All households in Canada |
12.5% |
1.6 million households in need |
| Owners |
6.5% |
562,800 households in need |
Renters
|
26.4% |
989,400 households in need |
| Couples |
6.0% |
428,200 households in need |
| Lone parents |
26.2% |
327,900 households in need |
| One-person households |
21.6% |
718,200 households in need |
| Low-income ($1 to $31,598) |
50.4% |
1.3 million households in need |
| Moderate income ($31,599 to $52,353) |
10.8% |
268,300 households in need |
| Off-reserve Aboriginal households |
19.0% |
95,800 households in need |
| Youth-led (15 – 24 years) |
19.9% |
75,300 households in need |
| Senior-led (65+ years) |
13.7% |
394,300 households in need |
| Employed |
7.9% |
639,600 households in need |
Unemployed
|
24.6% |
111,900 households in need |
| Recent immigrants (2006 – 2011) |
29.6% |
83,100 households in need |
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